Revision as of 09:37, 15 September 2017

How to Register

Sign in to the VOCWiki on the log in page. You may need to create an account, which can be done from the log in page. Include your email address in your account information. It will not be exposed to the public but it will allow people to contact you with the "email this user" feature.
Edit this Wiki page using the edit tab. Or just edit the subsection you want to change using the edit buttons to the right of each heading. See help:contents for help with editing the wiki.
Add a line to the appropriate hut section with your registration. Include the following information:

The date you plan to use the hut

The size of your group. Do not describe your party size as "hut full". This isn't a very good descriptor - it's way too subjective. Try and give some real numbers, even if it's only an estimate or a range. We don't ask that you're so specific, but please try and estimate a number and update that to be as accurate as you can. VOC trips, in particular, can usually be found on the trip agenda - so if you are a VOC Member, you can see not only how many people are coming, but even what their names are and who's driving (if the organizer is keen they will have a link directly in the hut registration page).

Your contact information - your phone number, email address, or a link to your user or user:talk page (easily created with ~~~~ or ~~~). If you have registered your email with the VOCWiki, other people can contact you through your user:talk page without revealing your email address.

If your chosen date becomes too busy for your liking, you may move your registration to another date.
Update your registration if any details about your group change.

DO NOT DELETE REGISTRATIONS: Registrations numbers are being recorded in the VOC Hut Registration Archive page at the end of each month. For further information contact the VOC Hut Coordinator George Hill.

If you know you will be at a VOC Hut at a given time please post here to let people know. It's the "right thing to do."

Remember - it's a registration not a reservation

You are registering to tell people that you are going, but also to receive information in case the hut gets too full for your liking. That's why you need to include your contact information. Feel free to register far in advance, but remember that other people may plan trips on a different timescale (especially VOC types, who are categorically disorganized students).

VOC members are very tolerant of cramped conditions in our huts. If you would prefer to avoid crowded situations, please register below so the VOC and other users can contact you to coordinate use. The rule for VOC huts is that there is always room for one more (this works both ways).

We suggest non-VOC members give VOC a donation of $10 per person per night; you could send it to us or put it in the blue lock box inside the hut. This money is exclusively for goods to maintain the huts and their trails. All of the hard labor is done by volunteers. If you are interested in doing trail work on your way up to any of the Huts the VOC has a complete set of Tools that you can freely borrow. View our complete inventory of tools at our Tool Inventory page.

Brew Hut Registration

The Brew Hut sleeps 12 in relative comfort. In a pinch there is enough space for 16 to sleep in the loft and 3 more on the sleeping bench downstairs, with nobody on the wet floor, but it's very tight. The current record is 22 people and a dog, set during Thanksgiving 2016. Please use firewood sparingly. In summer 2014, VOC spent about $7k to fly in firewood, if we are careful it might last five years. This is not the place to make campfires. Unless the wind is howling, the snow is flying, and you are actually cold, don't light the wood-burning heater. If you're a strong party consider carrying up your own firewood. There's some cut and stacked at Brew Lake.

Bulletins

We now have solar lighting, which should provide ~8 hours of light, after charging with 20 hours of sunlight. Turn it on with the black button, and turn it off with the red button. It turns off every hour.

A security guard has been unlawfully preventing cars for non-motorized recreationalists from getting to the winter parking lot. This security guard does not have authorization from the Squamish Forest District and therefore if you are stopped, call Dave Southam the Sea to Sky District Manager at (604) 898-2141. The VOC is currently reviewing this ongoing issue and is pursuing methods to mitigate impact for those trying to access Brew Hut. If you would like to be involved in the conversation, check out this VOC message board thread. If you are a snowmobiler, there is a $20 access fee that you must pay. For more information contact George Hill

The road at the R200 junction has been "deactivated", with a log across the road.

2014 March 2nd

Lots of fresh snow! Vehicles with 4WD or AWD were able to get to the snowcat base (1.7km up Chance Creek FSR). Due to snow, the road is impassable to most vehicles beyond this point. There is a new clearcut (2013) just past the "old" trailhead on R200 that can make route-finding challenging when fresh snow covers any previous tracks. Recommended approach: Bring GPS waypoints if possible but otherwise from the "old" trailhead you can follow the new road R230 originally heading east for about half km and then climbing north between two small hills, skirting the edge of a band of trees through the clearcut. Look for orange markers at the base of the first rock bluff about 1km from the "old" trailhead. From the base of the rock bluff the route is well marked by orange markers all the way to Brew Lake. From Brew Lake to Brew Hut there are no markers but the route is fairly straight forward. Head WNW over mostly open slopes with sparse trees for about 1km before turning north to ascend a col just west of the hut. Brew Hut is in good shape. The lantern and stove are both working well and there is ample firewood in the wood shed. The outhouse is accessible (but quite full).

2008 September 1st

Road in good shape to the trailhead. Blueberry bushes are quite dense, but once through them, the trail in the forest is pretty good. Some chainsawing of stumps, to improve the skiing, was done this summer. Unfortunately the trail permit is for a "winter ski trail", and that's what we built. We are not improving the trail to summer standards, partially because that's not what the permit is for, and partially because of the amount of work involved.

2008 June 14th

The road was drivable all the way to the trailhead. No seasonal water bars were put in on the road. Bushwhacking through the clear cut then spring snow conditions on most of the trail, with about 20% of the below treeline trail melted out (mostly in the open boulder field sections). Still lots of snow in the alpine. Minor repairs needed to the seal around the bottom of the hut door.

2008 January 19th

Vehicles with 4WD or AWD were able to get up to the snowcat base and other cars were stopped at the highway. The road up Roe Creek was packed down by snowcat. Tons of snow at Brew, fantastic powder, and not too much to not have a hard time making tracks. The wood stove chimney was plug by snow, but we manage to dig a big chunk out. The evening/night was then nice and warm.

2006 December 27th

Vehicles with 4WD or AWD were able to get up to the snowcat base at 1.7km of Chance Creek FSR, other cars were stopped by the highway. 2wd and chains might do the trick as well but nobody tried that. The road up Roe Creek is now packed down by snowcat, and all cross ditches on Roe Creek mainline and on the R200 branch are filled in. Snow depth estimated to be about 3.5 or 4m around Brew Lake. The chimney for the lantern is broken but it still works, and the pumps on both the lantern and the stove needed a lot of oiling during our stay.

2006 November 25th

Chance Creek FSR plowed for heli logging, but Roe Creek road was completely snowed in. Trail breaking from the start of Roe Creek road to the hut took 7 hours, arriving just before dark. A half dozen or so open water bars on the road, but most will be completely covered over soon. Trail is in great shape, with over 1m of snow at the start and lots more at brew lake. Snow depth was 2.5m in the meadows just below the hut. South and West side windows are frozen closed but the north side ones work and so does the door. Outhouse was not buried, but wind seems to be blowing the door inwards, and it's supposed to open out. The old Coleman stove was replaced with a different old Coleman stove that does not suffer from the problem of the air intake catching on fire.

2006 November 12th

Did the inaugural boot pack in. Broke trail from the Roe Creek bridge at 11am. Only had made it to ther 2nd rock outcropping by 3:45. Very slow going. Decided to turn around and made it back to the car in about 90 min. Under the cover of trees, snow was appx knee deep with snowshoes on. In the boulder gardens/clearings snow was up to waist deep or higher at times. Trail well marked up to our turnaround point.

2006 October 14th

Cleared out ski trail from Roe Creek - much easier travelling now. Brew Hut boasts a new fire extinguisher and a new hatchet.

2006 July 22nd

Brew Lake trail is snow free, and there are only a few snow patches left above Brew Lake. There is still plenty of snow around the hut for drinking water. The outhouse has now been installed just NE of the hut.

Brian Waddington (Phelix) Hut Registration

The Brian Waddington Hut can handle about 24 people in the loft upstairs. We discourage people from going up there between August 15 and October 15 as the grizzly bears up there need a little privacy at this time. Due to the sensitive nature of the alpine environment, please do not make campfires or cut wood from around the Hut.

Bulletins

The hut no longer has Coleman stoves that burn naphtha, white gas, Coleman fuel. There is now a Propane Coleman Stove that burns propane in one-pound propane cylinders. The Club does not supply propane. Feel free to bring propane cylinders to the hut, feel free to use any that are left up there that still contain propane, but please haul out any empties. Of course you can always bring your own stove...

Burton Hut (Garibaldi Lake, or Sphinx Hut) Registration

The Burton Hut sleeps 10 comfortably and 15 is cozy. Make sure Garibaldi lake is frozen before you try to cross it. Typically it is frozen by the start of February. This hut does not have a donation box, but we still maintain it, and your donation is welcome. In addition, if you stay at Sphinx, or anywhere in Garibaldi park, you must pay BC Parks $10 per person per night, even if you are a VOC membership-paying person. This may be paid online, the link is on the BC Parks/ Garibaldi website or go to: [1]. The penalty for not paying is $144 per person.

The hut is in great shape, very tidy and well put together. A note on the Coleman stove reports a leak. We didn't try it since we had a camp stove. Nor did we, or the other group of five guys, test the heater or lantern. There are a couple snow melting pots and a 5gal bucket for collecting creek water, but no cook pots or other utensils. The creek is open and the water sweet, but don't venture there in your booties.

Harrison Hut Registration

The Harrison Hut sleeps 10 comfortably and 15 is cozy. Getting to the hut is difficult but is getting easier. Read more here: Harrison Hut Trail. Road closures are frequent due to the landslide risk being high, or landslides actually occurring and blocking the road. Be sure to check the official road bulletin here [2] before going. Keep in mind the bulletin is not updated nearly as frequently as it should so sometimes the road re-opens before it is official posted on the bulletin. Check the bulletin below for the most recent VOC and user updates on both the road status and the Hut/Trail conditions.

Registration Board

Date: group of X VOCers or non-VOCers, contact information

2017 September 3-5 VOC centennial large group (up to 20) of VOC + alumni, most leaving on the 4th (lukas DOT schreiber AT gmx DOT alpha tango)

As of mid 2014 hiking season the route is continuous, but it is not yet complete as a trail. Footbed work continues in various areas. But it's brushed out, most of the worst sidehills have a good footbed, Barr Creek has a bridge, and there are sufficient markers that you should have no problem finding the way if you're careful.

Lizzie Creek Cabin Registration

The Lizzie Creek Cabin sleeps 8 comfortably and 10-12 is cozy. Note that getting to the hut is about 12km and can be difficult if the trail is not brushed from time to time. Note that the cabin was not built by, and is not currently maintained by VOC, but if you want to indicate that you will be using it, you are welcome to do so.

Registration Board

Bulletins

After a VOC work hike and the BC Government helping to clean up the trail, it is now completely clear and a beginner friendly trail. Work still needs to be done on the roof of the Hut, the floor of the Hut and the safety of the new one log bridge.

Keith's (Cerise Cr) Hut Registration

Note that Keith's Hut is not built or maintained by VOC, but if you want to indicate that you will be using it, you are welcome to do so. Most users do not register, so don't be surprised to find the hut full to bursting with people who did not register here. The Hut has space for 15 people, but very often over 25 people sleep all over the place, dogs included.

Registration Board

Date: group of X VOCers or non-VOCers, contact information

Bulletins

Party of three skinned in the winter route. The bridge over Cerise Creek was no longer snow-covered and was under water, requiring wet feet. Snow is melting rapidly up near the hut, and the higher portion of the winter trail along the creek will soon be difficult to navigate due to melting snow bridges.

Party of 5 went in on Friday and out on Saturday. Halfway between the first and second bridges right near the parking area on the Duffey Lake Road there was some flagging that said the "second bridge" was out or unpassable at high water, and a note to follow a new flagging route up through the forest. Not sure if the "second bridge" was referring to the one immediately after the flagging or to the larger bridge much further up on the logging road segment before the old trailhead. Regardless, both bridges were perfectly serviceable and we crossed them with no difficulty whatsoever (for details see talk). Hut was clean, some snow patches remaining around the glacier, great time was had...

A BCMC party flagged a new route on the west side of Cerise Creek. Follow flagging on the right, a bit after the first bridge over Cayoosh Creek (right after the parking lot on Hwy 99). See ClubTread for more details.

Took the newly flagged route up, about 1hr to the summer trailhead on the Cerise FSR. On the way back we waded Cerise creek (almost crotch high water) at the Cerise FSR and took the east side trail back. The latter option is much faster (~30mins), but you'll get wet feet.

Sentinal Bay Glaciology Hut Registration

The Sentinel Bay Glaciology Huts are not built or maintained by VOC, but if you want to indicate that you will be using it/them, you are welcome to do so.

Registration Board

Date: group of X VOCers or non-VOCers, contact information

Bulletins

2015 April 22nd - Steve Grant

The huts are in good condition, and seem to be getting little use. The west side of Sentinel Bay is now open water. It is possible to get ashore off the lake on the east side, but you have to navigate around the open creek outflow and the usual wet area along the fringe of the lake. One hot day will spell the end of adequate conditions. Nice beach at the east end of the bay. There's so little snow that approaching the hut once off the lake requires some dodging around or taking the skis off. The Sentinel Bay area of Lake Garibaldi melts out first, and conditions are marginal now for skiing. I'd advise against trying it with snowshoes. Despite that, everywhere on the lake I tried to dig a hole to get water, I ran into a hard thick layer of ice that could not be penetrated with an aluminum shovel.